LEGO Studies

This academic collection examines LEGO bricks as far more than children's toys, exploring their evolution from simple binding bricks into a sophisticated system of play and global cultural force. The book traces how LEGO transformed from basic building blocks into a medium capable of absorbing entire fictional universes, analyzing the company's journey toward becoming what scholars term a "transmedia" phenomenon. Through multiple scholarly perspectives, it investigates how these plastic bricks have become vehicles for storytelling across franchises from Star Wars to Harry Potter, creating what the editor identifies as the LEGO System of Play that now dominates both childhood and adult creative spaces.

What makes this volume particularly compelling is its serious treatment of LEGO culture beyond nostalgia, diving into the complex relationship between physical construction and digital adaptation in contemporary media landscapes. The collection will resonate most with media studies students, cultural theorists, and dedicated AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) seeking to understand how these iconic bricks function as both artistic medium and corporate entity. By positioning LEGO at the intersection of material culture, fandom studies, and transmedia theory, this work demonstrates how a simple toy system has fundamentally shaped modern approaches to creativity and narrative.